Team NZ name announce their wrestling team for Comm Games

The New Zealand wrestling team has been named for the Commonwealth Games which also includes Head Coach Peter Pouri-Lane of Ngāti Kuia, who will lead them into the heat of battle.

The message coming from the coach to his fighters is to do what is required to get the result.

“These young people, it's one of their biggest dreams, to go to a Comm Games and to be able to share that with them is very cool. It's just an honour.”

Although he's a newbie to the Commonwealth Games, Pouri-Lane has long been coaching here in NZ.

“I've known them all for a long time and watched them develop and been in their corner quite often.”

Tayla Ford has been named for her second games and the Tainui woman will be looking to repeat a podium finish after winning bronze in Glasgow four years ago.

But for the majority, this will be a first.

Pouri-Lane is adamant the work has been done; now it's time to deliver.

“We were in South Africa just before Christmas for two weeks training and competing and then since then just waiting for the whole selection process and just keeping their fitness and conditioning up. Now that the teams announce now it's just getting them to do those final preparations.”